Intro Winter Travel

$295.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Looking to get into the mountains in winter? This two-day backcountry tour with one night of winter camping will get you started with the basics of gear choice, trip planning, winter camping, movement through mountain terrain in winter, avalanche awareness, map and terrain skills, and more. This course will help you take that first step into the winter backcountry.

Please note: the trip scheduled for April 1-2 is for skiers/splitboarders, though we also offer this course for snowshoers. Please get in touch to set up a new trip.

Advanced Winter Skills

$745.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

This five-day course caters to the island ski tourer who is looking to gain the skills and knowledge to travel efficiently and safely through our island terrain in the winter. Vancouver Island Mountains are unique in snowpack and topography which require the back country traveler to be well versed in route finding, navigation, rope management and avalanche hazard evaluation. This course will cover skills such as avalanche hazard management, rope management including protecting, belaying and lowering, crevasse rescue skills and white-out navigation. This is an advanced-level course and the participant should be familiar with common climbing knots, hold a minimum AST1 certificate and be comfortable traveling for extended days in a backcountry winter environment.

Glacier Ski Course

$495.00 / person

(at 4:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

Take your ski touring to the next level by learning all about skiing in glaciated terrain. Glacier formation, route finding, roping for glacier travel and crevasse rescue are all covered in this 3 day course which takes place in the spectacular Spearhead Range. This trip is off Island to take advantage of the heavily crevassed terrain in the Coast Mountains.

Backcountry Performance

$495.00 / person

(at 2:1 ratio)

STRENUOUSNESS

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY

An increasing number of people are thinking about getting into the backcountry these days. The numbers on our avalanche courses are a good indication of that! But for many, it's their skiing or snowboarding skills in natural snow conditions that need attention. That's why we've developed this program consisting of three, two-hour, low-ratio sessions with a high-end ski or snowboard coach, followed by a day of off-piste backcountry with our certified guides.

Please note that the next scheduled course, March 10-16, is spread out over three, non-consecutive days: Part 1 of the program consists of three, two-hour sessions with a Mount Washington instructor on Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11. Part 2 of the program consists of a full-day day of off-piste backcountry with an IAG guide on Thursday, March 16.

Ski Touring

From an introduction to travel in winter to advanced skills course, whether you are on skis, snow board or snow shoes, we'll show you how to enjoy the mountains safely in winter.

locally owned & operated

Welcome to IAG

We’re based right here in Comox Valley, on the edge of Strathcona Provincial Park. IAG is Vancouver Island’s premier Alpine Guiding outfit, and your ticket to exploring the spectacular alpine and coastal areas on the island and BC's Coast Ranges.

Our goal is to provide you with awesome experiences where you learn valuable skills and have fun along the way. Our experienced guides are certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and/or are members of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Your safety is always our top priority.

Our vast back yard offers breathtaking scenery and many challenging and rewarding adventures, and we can’t wait to share them with you.